Legends of Avantris - Curse of Strahdanya | Ep. 26 | Mother's Malice: Part 1

Episode Date: October 1, 2025

Having changed fate itself with the resurrection of Sergei von Zarovich, the Azran Expedition must escape the Ravenloft Crypts and return the skull of Argynvost to its rightful resting place.    Gain access to an exclusive campaign, Shroud Over Saltmarsh, over on Patreon: https://legendsofavantris.com/patreon The Crooked Moon, a folk horror supplement for 5e, is available for preorder! Get the Crooked Moon at: https://thecrookedmoon.com/ Watch more D&D adventures in the world of Avantris live on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/legendsofavantris Check out our merch store: https://shop.legendsofavantris.com  Join our community on Discord: https://legendsofavantris.com/discord Watch our many campaigns on YouTube: https://legendsofavantris.com/youtube  All other links: https://linktr.ee/legendsofavantris   Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/1vmsYhu0zTc?si=_pEp_UudEu8cpbv_

You are back in the crypts of Castle Ravenloft and listening to Kursos Stradanya, the Legends of Adventress podcast. Last time, the Asran expedition finally braved Castle Ravenloft and decided to start with the crypts. As to be expected, they encountered many dead. Some were resting peacefully, but others, not so much. Still, they survived, doing some grave robbing along the way, including the skull of the silver dragon Argonbost.

Worst of all, they had the audacity to resurrect my own brother Sergei, to use him as a weapon against me. The gloves are off for everyone, it seems. Yet, they still must escape Castle Ravenloft alive. We shall see if they can pull it off. This episode is brought to you by our generous supporters on Patreon. You can become a patron yourself by following the link in the show notes. we are eternally grateful for your support.

With that out of the way, let us proceed with Chapter 13, Mother's Malice. As you stand in the tomb looking around, Sergei leans down towards you, Connor. You're holding his sword in your hands. We have much to do if we are going to rid this land of the evil that exists here. And you see that he, for a moment, his breath comes out. in a quick puff of air, and he hold onto his side, shakes his head a little bit. I will need my blade, and he reaches down. Of course.

As he grabs it from you, he wields it, and you can see there's strength there, but also a weakness. He doesn't seem to be his full strength, but he's the facade that he has on, showing you how strong he is. There's almost a radiant glow about him. His armor pristine silver and blazoned with the symbol of the morning lord. He holds on to the blade and he looks down at you.

Kneel before me. He places his blade from shoulder to shoulder as he slowly taps it alongside of your nagina. May the morning lord bless this weapon and all of you. He lets out a burst of radiant light And you see as your naginata illuminates With the pure light of dawn He sheathes his weapon Well

Where do we go from here The catechomes are not safe We cannot linger for long Are you feeling all right I am feeling well enough to travel But if you plan for a fight I don't know how much help I could be No no this is what we

Came for? I need rest. We should head back to the other term. The other term. The other... I'm not in the A&A.N. It's been out quite a few. Argon past.

Harrabel. That power was far beyond my means. All right, Sarnash. Just take a deep breath. You did more than we could have ever expected of anybody. Just calm now. It's going to be all right. Here, here.

Put your arm around my shoulder. I'm going to kind of like... Thank you, Shepard. Give them a little... prop as we... I'm sorry, my name's Shepard. I'm amazed at what's going on. He reaches out his arm.

It's in a full plate gauntlet, but he grasps onto you and shakes it. Sergei von Zorovich. This is truly amazing, and it's an honor to meet you. And you? My name is Professor Clayton Azran. It seems like you already know of our deeds.

I have seen you in death. well it's a pleasure to meet you finally in person and I still can't believe my eyes you have done much for this land I am honored that you were willing to allow me to assist you on the task that remains ahead it was the will of Garrick's the fire lord that you assisted us we are simply his humble servants the morning lord shined his light upon all of you, and welcomes a lord of light into his realm. I don't know what we did to deserve it. Either way, I agree. We shouldn't ha it. We shouldn't dally. We actually, to arrive here, we took the tunnels that you had built yourself, so I believe you'd probably

know them better than we do. I do. If you would like to go back the way we came, then we may do so. I will lead you back to the abbey. Any hesitations? Do we need to rest for a moment? I mean, I'm feeling all right. The sooner will be better. This place is not safe. Certainly.

You do not look well. I will be fine to walk. Yeah, I got it. I'll give them support. Shepherds' assistance. Of course. But don't I help. If you want, either way, I don't know.

You know, it's fine. I still got one good hand to shoot. It won't be all right. You should lead with Sergei. Connor. Sir gay. Please do lead the way. And let us know if your feeling of wellness changes at any time.

And I just want to sort of like look up and down. Can I just generally... Roll a, um, roll a perception check. Yeah, just sort of understand. I don't know. Or a medicine check. Yeah, I just want to sort of see like, is he cursed? I'll kind of get an instinct check, so that one's kind of.

Sorry. Where are my skills? That is a perception of seven, a 25. Looking up and down his body, he is wearing a full set of plate armor, so it's hard to actually see his form beneath it, but his posture shows the weight of the armor on him. There are bags beneath his eyes now. His breath is more shallow than it had been when he first awoke. Can you imagine that the years of death have taken their toll on him? And though he's here, he looks weak and not nearly at full strength.

He doesn't look cursed or sick, just tired like he needs rest. Well, if you feel unwillingly time, we have a very capable healer with us. So he was the one who brought you back. But your assistance in guiding us back, That would be greatly appreciated. Yes. Let the light of the morning lead our path. If I may, before we leave, I'm sure your sister will be curious as to the state that we are leaving this area.

And if I may close the tomb from which you awoke. That would be wise. And I'll put down my naginata and slide it closed and try to basically make the area look like what it did when we came in. And when we walk out, I'm going to pull the lever back down with all my strength to close the. I'll say as a group effort, you're all easily able to leave the room in as best a rough approximation of the way that you left it. It would be difficult for most to detect that anyone had been in here. As you begin to make your way past the tomb or past the crypt that housed St. Markovia, you see as Serge looks before it, and he bows his head on. almost in prayer, almost in honor to the saint as he walks past.

You watches his eyes dart from crypt to crypt. Some of them, his eyes linger a bit longer as if he knows those who are in tomb tier. You see as you get to the apex where you had entered the two statues with their magical, the magical energy that was shooting between their weapons. You see as he stops there, but he does not face in that. direction. He looks directly the opposite direction, directly to the crypt that mirrors his on the opposite side. You see emblazoned above the crypt in flourishing Gothic lettering, Stradanya von Zarovich. And you see for a moment a look of anger flash across his face before he centers

himself. And you see one lone tear drip down his cheek. as he turns and faces the statues and the energy. He grabs on to the hilt of his blade, and you hear him mumble, chanting something beneath his breath, as he begins to glow in a radiating energy of soft, warm morning light. It is about 10-foot diameter sphere around him with pure sunlight.

If we are going to pass through, you need to join me in the light of the morning, Lord. course, absolutely. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Yes, of course. And as you all join into the sphere, you begin to walk down the steps and through the energy,

that energy which you now know from the sending that Arabella had sent to you, that had you tried to pass through this without being someone of lawful, good alignment, it would have returned you to the top of the stairs. But the safety and the blessing of the morning Lord, negates the effect as Sergei allows you to walk through directly towards the entrance. You see as what you remember had been an archway that you had used to enter in to the tunnel here,

but there is no archway. And as Sergei walks closer, he takes a small dagger from his side and slices into his hand and as he presses the blood against one of the stones. You see the stones begin to move and shift. the archway reforming. You begin to walk. You eventually make your way

towards a pathway with three different directions. He unsheeds the sunblade, holds it up, and you see as if moving without his energy, the blade points in a direction, and he follows him. You come to another crossroads. The same thing.

He waits for the blade to dictate the direction. direction. Far more winding pathways than you remember coming in here. You are finally able to make your way towards the great that you know will eventually lead up and out of the fountain at the Abbey of St. Markovia. Sergei ushers you all up out of the bottom of the well and into the grass. He looks down at Sarnax, the very bottom, and he smiles at you, almost as if knowing without words, the role that you have to play in this, as you stand there. at the bottom of this well, you look behind you and you see the winding pathways of this dark and subterranean tunnel that led you to the penultimate trinket that you need, token that you need to defeat Stradonia. You look up at all of your friends and companions and now Sergei staring down at you.

The radiant light of the morning lord shine down in the only place in all of Arovia where the sun actually. shines as you grab onto the lever and you begin to fill the passageway in the well with water. Your lizard body is consumed by the cold field of the water as it washes over you, but you are able to swim as you ride it all the way up to the top and climb out. You all stand in the grove of the morning ward. What do you want to do? Sargay, will we be returning this way when the time comes to make our final assault. That would be completely up to you. My sister does not know of this gate.

It is, I believe, the only entrance to Castle Ravenloft that she does not have knowledge of. It would be valuable. But my sister is also tricky, and she has eyes everywhere. You have been in the catacombs now. She may not know what you have done. But it is likely she will know that you have been there.

They will be heavily guarded. It will be a choice you will have to make. They're not planned to use the characteristics of our advantage. And you still may. We did. It's certain to be trapped now. She will know we are coming regardless. Perhaps we burn down the front door.

I'm not opposed to that, actually. Guns and blaze. Kick the front doors right off. My preference as well. But we can cross that bridge when we get there. There's not time to worry about that right now. That said, we've been up for probably almost like 30 or 40 hours at this point. Yes.

I think we should get some sleep. Let's introduce you to the Abbot and Irina as well. As you say, Irina, you see his face, a slight warmth come to his cheeks, almost an uncomfortability that smile graces his lips and he nods. I would like to meet the move. I do warn you, she is

confused by this obsession from your sister. She might not fully understand that she is Tatiana reincarnated. Yes, I think that's an important point just to mention. It's just, while it may feel you can sense her soul,

she is... Professor Rez-Razer. I am a gentleman. Of course. I do not begin to assume that my initial inclination for Irene she may look like Tatiana.

She may house the soul of my love but she is a new person. Yes. If we choose each other than we do I have a purpose to free this land of the evil that festeres deep within. Well, I'm glad you stand before us.

But I appreciate you looking out for Irene. She has found friendship in you. She's... Wonderful girl. Yes, kind and sweet and generous, and she's given me a lot of peace of mind with the children of this land. And I believe she has a bright future,

as do our Barovians, if we can sort all this out. We apologize if we spoke out of terms, Sergey. He smiles at you. I take no offense. You in time will learn to know me, as I will learn to know you. Forgive me for saying,

but you do seem a bit weary. If there are anything we can do to help invigorate you? I need to sleep, I believe. Yes. I feel like, no time has passed it all. How strange. And yet I know that hundreds of years have been stolen from me.

My heart and my mind are both weak and wounded. For me to truly be of use to you, I need to find myself again. In this new land, there was a moment when the morning lord called to me that I turned from his light. I almost chose not to come back to this land. This was not my fight. But it was with my death that this began. I have a duty to this land now.

It is easy in a time of darkness to turn away from the light and let death consume you. But those able to fight, all of us have a duty. not just you Sergei he nods in you wise words from a cleric of delight you and I we will find a companionship

I feel we may worship different gods but we walk the same path he walks up to you you feel as he puts his arm on your shoulder you also are wise now it is late

please let us find comfort and peace for one more night let the shadows haunt us in the morning agreed let's find arena you make your way almost in near silence to the avenue you enter in through the gates and through the doors the few remaining mongrel folk that are still here familiar with you at this point whether it's that you've been here so many times that they've been given instructions from the abbot himself to not hinder

to not hinder you when you are in the vicinity they allow you in you walk and you make your way all the way to the main room of the abbey where you know the abbot to reside most of the time and as you make your way in you look around and you do not see him yet again sitting at the table you do see Arabel and Irene. Pouring of her book, Arabel has a pot of ink and a quill next to her. She is dipping it in and Irina seems to be teaching her different lettering techniques and things. And you can't quite hear the words that they're saying, but occasionally you see Arabel throw her head back and giggle and Irene shake her head,

but she's got a broad smile on her face. They appear to be having a good time. They're so caught up in what they're doing. they don't seem to notice as you walk in. As Sergei steps onto the stone floor, the loud clanking resonates throughout this entire room. It's at this moment that they both jump and look over. Arabelle leaps from the table and runs directly over to you, Clayton.

And she wraps her arm around your legs. You're back. I knew you would come back for me. You did not die. I'm sorry. No, I'm glad we didn't die. But there's still time for that. You know what I was doing?

Lady Irina was teaching me how to write with really pretty letters so I was writing you a note that I was going to put on your crib but that's okay because now I can just give it to you. All it says is I like you and you are my new best friend and I will miss you

forever. But now I can cross at the miss you part. Well, I'm glad we'll reunite it and you've been studying so, hell's up. Oh my gosh, look at this really tall man in all of these armor. Is he real? and she knocks on his,

on the portion of his leg as it clinks. I like that sound. It's really cool. We didn't die. We made a new friend. Look at his weapon.

He's glowing, like really pretty. Oh, my gosh. Erbil, I, Rina. This is Serge. You see that Irina is standing now at the table and she is looking at all of you,

but her eyes continue to linger on Sergei. She seems nervous. She doesn't quite know what to do. doing. Arabel is completely ignoring her and she's looking up at Sarah. You are really pretty. I think that you could make a really good husband for like me. She looked at him with really big eyes. I'm not too young for that. Please don't. This is a matter of the heart, Professor Clayton, so you should not get involved, you know. Anyway, what's your name? I'm Arabelle and she reaches her arm up to shake his hand. He reaches his hand down

and he clasps hers. As he gets down in one knee, you hear the clank echo throughout the room. It is lovely to meet you, Ahrbel. I am Sergei. And you are very beautiful. As he leans down, he places a kiss on her hand.

One day, you will break many a man's heart. I hope I am not caught in the line of fire. And he winks at her as he stands up. He continues to hold on to her hand. I see that you have been taught many things by a lovely lady. Would you do the honor of introducing me?

Well, if you want to Arbath, please don't like her more than me, okay? And he looks down at her, and for a moment he makes eye contact with Irina, and you see almost like an instant, not connection, but an understanding. And he looks down at Arbel again and he says, There is not a woman in the world that could have captured my heart so instantly as you could have. Lead the way, Godlink. And he holds onto her hand and he looks at all of you with his others. And he weighs his other hand.

He wades you along. Make your way over. As he walks closer and closer to her, you can see he's getting nervous. And he looks down at her. at Irene as they are now a mere two or three feet apart. And Arabelle wiggles her way in between both of them. Irina, this is Sergei, he's my future husband, but he wanted to meet you because you're my teacher. So, you know, here you are.

Say hello. He's so pretty. I like him. I really like him. And she's just staring up at him. And Irina looks down and she tossles her hair. and she looks for and she says, thank you for what you did in the grove.

I know it was you that she was calling to me, and I know that you protected me from her. I know the lives I had been fed. I see the truth now. And I don't know you. I don't want you to get any ideas. I at least wanted to give you my... sincere thanks for the protection you should.

And he reaches down, clasps her hand. And he says, I do not know who you are. But the person I have seen in the visits to the well is a person that Borovia has not deserved in many hundreds of years. I hope that we will learn to know each other in that one day you will come to it the very least

call me for her and she smiles up at him yes and I think I would like that well I will have dinner brought in

you all look famished and I'm quite caught off guard by all of this and so we will have dinner and we will talk about what you've endured

and Arabelle was convinced you all going to die and she said nothing to me about another guest. So I will get right on that and I will be back shortly. And she looks up at Sergei and you see a

smile on her face. She looks at all of you and she seems happy and hopeful as she bustles out of the room quickly, not even allowing you a moment to ask her any questions or to pry. She wants to get out as room as quickly as she

bustles out and feels the preparations for dinner. She comes in here and there, and she sets the table and makes small talk with you. Arabelle is sitting as close to Sergei as she possibly can, in between Sergei and Clayton. And she rambles off all of the things she's done, and at least 50, maybe 70% of the things she's talking about. You know she could not have possibly done since the last time that you were here, but she seems convinced that she's accomplished them all. She's a seasoned hero. She's part sorceress, part wizard, rogue, druid, anything that you can imagine.

Any kind of magic user that exists, she's done it within the past 24 hours. As dinner is finally served for you, you will eat and drink and have a moment of peace. And as dinner winds down, the Mongol folk make their way and they're kind to you. They refill your glasses. There's a joy to them. They've found peace here. So in this moment, you finally have the ability to relax. Irina has mentioned that since you've been gone,

the abbot has made his way back to the Abbey on a few occasions to restock supplies, but that his efforts are firmly in rebuilding the village of Krez, as well as having sent out a band of the most able-bodied men, as well as some of the Mongol folk, to quell the werewolf threat. and that from what they can gather, the expedition, as it were, has been successful so far. Oh, I really wanted to kill some weird.

And that is where we will. I'm glad that they took care of it, but... I want to say through all of the description of dinner and all the jovial lightness that, you know, this reprie, this respite that we've gotten... There's still a somberness. I have been... Shepherd has been very... Stoic while enjoying it and seem to be relaxed. I'm still very stuck almost focused

through the whole thing. Well, you feeling all right, Shepard? Oh, me? Uh, yeah. It's quiet. Yeah, uh, it's just, uh, it kind of reminds me of being back home in Yona only on the night of a big hunt. I'm just trying to stay extra focused because when you're hunting deadly prey, one slip-up and it's all over. That's right. And whatever we've got ahead of us tomorrow or the next day or whenever we might face this thing,

I'm going to be ready. We all should be. It will take several days to get back to Argonvost Holt and return the skull, but then it's right to Beret. As long as we can maintain focus, Yes. And then when we get into that battle or hunt or whatever you want to call it, that's what I'm going to feel alive. Well, I'm glad at least one of us is looking forward to it.

Are you going to kill someone? Well, we'll see what happens. If we can avoid blows at all costs, of course we will. But don't you worry. You won't do that. You'll totally kill someone I could see in service. You are, have a look on your face that looks like you're enjoying that way too much. Well, you're not going to kill nice things, though.

You're going to kill the bad things that work in the dark, you know? Monsters. Yes. That's what I do. I'm so excited for this. You're not coming anywhere. I'm here. The danger.

I don't know what you mean. Sorry, Saucs. You do know that achieving good things sometimes requires. requires loss of life, great loss of life. I see a lot of really dark futures, so yeah, I know that a lot. But we're going to win. Well, like, maybe, I think. Definitely.

Okay. I will make sure not to write another goodbye letter to Professor Clayton. Thank you. I appreciate that. I will write one for you. Okay. You're wasting your time there for this. I want you to remember that your goal is to study and learn.

Your goal is not to fight, leave that to us, and just try to be as smart as you can. I'm like really smart. I know, but imagine how powerful you could be by the time you're my age. I don't want to be 200 youthful, though. It's not that bad, I promise. I don't know. But like then your skin gets all.

weird, you know, and it like starts to sag a little bit, and then you have all those gray hairs in your head, and then like sometimes your teeth can fall out too. Do you have all of your teeth? Let me see, and she climbs up on you, and she holds your mouth open and she looks in. You have all your teeth. Well, maybe by then... You don't smell like old things, though. By then, you may have found a cure to gray hair, saggy skin, tooth rot, and everything else, and you'll live forever. If you study. I don't think I want to live forever. I've seen what it looks like in the mind of someone who's done it so far.

And it's not really pleasant. I think that I want to get to like a normal age, like for to die. And then that would be okay. But I also want to marry him. Death is a critical part of the circle of life. And if you all excuse me. I will pray in the courtyard. Okay, goodbye.

We'll miss you a lot. Bye. If you need us, all right? I will. I will. No, thank you. I must pray alone. I don't know.

You know, most of the times when people I want to leave in the middle of dinner to go do something alone, you know what they're actually doing? What's that? They've stolen something from you and they're going to pawn it off. the shop. But I don't think that Sarnax is doing that because he like

doesn't seem to really like money at all. So I don't think that's what he's doing. He's probably actually going to pray, which is like way more boring. I don't think he could lie if he wanted to. Why? He just doesn't have the mind for it.

My name is nature to lie. It's in everybody's nature to lie. Well, everybody, but sorry. Well, maybe. He's kind of a lizard, so... Well, I'm, like, really tired, so I'm going to go to bed now, I think, because, like, it is way past my bedtime.

So if you could just open your case, I will go in and spend time in my doll-out. It does sound good. Is everyone else ready to go to bed? Is there a room for Sergei? We can make him much more food. I... Yes. Actually...

I think if it's on the right with you, that we will make a bed for Sergei in the infirmary. He's not looking well, and he should be attended to when the average returns. And he will not make his way into your case. So I would prefer you here. Absolutely, of course. Doctor's orders, understood. Yeah, would you like me to be on guard while he's attended to in the infirmary? No.

with the light of the morning, Lord, not a single horrible thing has been able to make it anyone near the abbey. This has to be the safest place in all of Borovia. There's no better place to be in here. Please, rest, all of you, you look, and I say this with the kindest of intentions, you look absolutely atrocious.

Understood, don't need to tell me twice. Open the case. I believe you. Magnificance. Good night, and I marched down into that case pretty good. Night, Irene, I'm really pretty. If you try to kiss him, I will know, and I'll be so mad at you. I'm not going to try to kiss him, darling.

I just want to make sure he's well. If he's too sick, too grown older, he cannot marry you someday. Well, that's true, so, yeah, you're just making him all well, and then it'll be fine. Let's go into the home now. I'll let everybody go in, and I'm going to take out some parchment and a quill real quick, and I just want to write down a note for Sarnax. I'll say, Sarnax, when you're ready

for bed, just knock on the police and Lucas will let you in. Professor Clayton, Azran, Azran Expedition, Miss Hall of University. First of his name. I'll leave it on the table right next to the case. And I won't make the case invisible.

Perfect. And I will go in. You watch as Arabele looks up at Sergei and she looks at him. Good night. Hunky, honky, happy. I'll see you. tomorrow. And she walks down into the case after you. So I would retire, I think, pretty much right away. Make sure the air valve is in the room, but I would retire and maybe do some writing or

transcribing for an hour. You take her up there. She wants to continue to talk as she does, but you are slowly figuring out how to maneuver this child and you're able to, you tuck her into bed and you pull out a book and you read her a bedtime story. And she's trying to talk over you. She's trying to do the voices for the story. change it, but you notice

as you continue to read and just ignoring her interjections and laughing at her joke, she eventually falls off to sleep and her soft snores are prevalent as you exit the room and make your way to your bedchambers. You all easily, unless you have anything else you want to do, you all

make your way towards your rooms and lay yourselves down for the night. This is our next. I would like to pray for a bit. I apologize for My voice, I cast a ninth level spell. So that's my excuse.

And I would like to pray for a bit. And then once I pray for maybe about an hour or two, in the courtyard, I'm going to go back around to where the grove is. And we feel like the entire area is how old. Including Cres. So the entire village of Cres and the entire slope, including the grove all the way up to the abbey, the entire thing is bathed.

in sunlight. I'm going to wander through the grove and kind of take in the hallow nature of it. And I'd like to find a spot of soil off to the side of this grove

where it might be a little bit out of the way, but still in like a nice spot, maybe around some bushes or on the edge of a pond or something. It's easy enough for you to do that. I don't need to make you roll for it. You can see visible earth in multiple places.

I'd like to step forward and I'll shine my light on it and I will say, Garrick's I know that I've planted many of the anal wood seeds here in this dark land but it is time for me to plant your tree in a hallowed place. and I will reach into my robes and I'll pull out a little pouch with the ashes of St. Markovia. And I'm going to disturb the soil and pour the ashes over it, mix it together, and then reach around and I'll pull the largest seed that I can find.

and I will press it in. May this be the great source of your renewal after I bring about the necessary destruction. And I'll step back and I'll pray in front of it for probably another hour. And then I will like to designate this as my sanctuary for the word of recall spell, if possible. What's the word of recall? I can basically instantly teleport all of us to this

point if it can be a designated spot. It needs to be a place of a hallowed designation to my God. Garrick's is the innkeeper and we just set our heartstone. Yeah. It's like the sparkles that come over.

Yeah, you can do that. We do this for 10 seconds. Yeah. Yeah. You can do that. So I just set all of our heartstone to the sacred grove in the morning one. So if things go pear-shaped. We can teleport within Borovia.

Yes. And you know what within Borovia and I out of Borovia. Got it, cool. And then I will find the note. I will actually not go back to the case. I'm going to spend, I'm going to just sit by the soil. I'm going to put my lantern down and I'm going to make sure that I can angle it in a way that the light is cast. on this, even though it is still dawn, and I'm going to, exhaust it. I'm going to slither up

around my lantern and go to sleep outside. So you do that. You curl up around the, where you planted the ashes of St. Markovia, where you have attuned this place, a small portion of it to Garrick's the fire lord, and you find peace. It's warm here under the rays of the morning sun, and you pass easily into sleep. Does anyone else doing anything before they go to bed? Nata. I would like to inspect my nagyata and see if I can discern what kind of moon may have been put on me.

He gave you a essentially, it is now, it does magical attacks. Yes! Finally! Finally! I don't have to swap out of my books here. No, we hear that echo through the hall. Thank you. So that is what it does.

It is now considered a magical weapon. I would like to stay up for two and a half hours. You would have to get a little less sleep, but I should all be sort of at least within the long rest. I like to stay up and transcribe, scri. You may do so. I would like to, before going to bed, just pray to Elmeter and say thank you for bringing Sergei to us.

and I think that he will help ease the suffering of all the people in this land and if so I shall take it upon myself to ensure that his goal is fulfilled right we do that and with that you all find yourselves falling into deep sleeps

Victoria you begin to dream oh boy find yourself looking around your body feeling warm as you look at an exquisite room, wood panelings, velvet and filigreed walls,

golden candelabras, a large hearth roaring with fire. You look to the side and you see a tray. Also, filigreed. It appears to be two naked intertwined bodies wrapped together, their arms stretched toward the sky holding this golden tray and atop it, a

large glass of deep purple wine, the smell assails, your nostrils, it's intoxicated. As you realize and look down, you are in a pure golden clawfoot bathtub. Your hair

piled atop your body. Soap suds, a thick layer covering the entirety of the water, hiding your modesty. The water is warm and scented, smells of lavender and lilies. You lay back and relax to look around the paintings on the walls are unfamiliar, but they show well-dressed aristocracy and beautiful garb in varying arrays of pleasure and enjoyment.

is your eyes dart to what appears to be, or not to what appears to be, to what is, a large king-sized claw, or claw foot, king-sized four-poster bed draped in lavish red velvets and red silks, gossamer curtains hanging from the four, different, from the four posts, piled high towards the back, are plush, satin pillows. And beneath the blankets, the shape, moving and undulating, feminine shape.

It undulates almost as in the utmost pleasure, but you hear no sounds as the shape begins to move and slither and change. As it moves this way and that, down the side of the bed, off the edge, beneath the carpet on the floor, and disappears under the bath. You look around and you hear a faint sound of children's laughter. And as you look down, the bubbles begin to pop a stench billowing from them. As you look down in the bubbles and the bathwater no longer fragrant, no longer warm, no longer hot, but now warm, as you see yourself bathed in a pool of blood. You all wake and enjoy a long rest. Do we? Do we?

Do we? Victoria gets a level of exhaustion. Seriously. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no. All awake, and I guess, do we know what time of day it is, roughly? I would say you could decide when you wanted to wake up and begin getting people up.

you are well enough in tune with your circadian rhythm that you would be able to decide when you'd like to get up. I will wake up and I will, I think I'll stay in a little bit and start kind of writing and I'll wait for everybody else to get up until like somebody could, like, call to me. Okay. I don't know how early everybody else is getting up. I'm going to get up and just running my hands through my hair and walk over. to a mirror and see if I look the same or if I have been accosted by Arabelle in the night.

You look exactly the same. No camel toad today? No camel to toe today. And I'll start putting my donning my armor and then I'll join them for breakfast. You make your way into the dining area and the only person that you see there is you're not sleeping at the... Oh, I'm outside. Yeah, you're outside. You make your way in and the only person you see there

Sitting on three books is Arabelle, taking her feet. She's in an adorable pale blue dress, a small almost bonnet-type hat on her head. And it seems that the help in the mansion have provided her with a extravagant breakfast. She's eating it and writing a letter in her very childish calligraphy. I'll walk up to her and sit down. I'll say, good morning, Arbao. I see the early bird as the bookworm. I don't know what that means, but yeah, I'm here. I woke up because I wanted to write my new husband a letter.

Oh, well, can I take a look? That's really prying, okay? Sure, and she passes it to you. And all it says is, I totally love you, Arabel. Well, if I may show you, I'm quite fond of your handwriting. I partaking calligraphy myself, and I'll take out my calligraphy tools out of my pack. and until other people get there. If she's willing, I would teach her the ways of calligraphy from Inari

and show her how to hold a calligraphy pen properly. And then for husband, and then I show her how to do like husband and cursive and all that. Then I'll like throw in a couple like special characters of like my own calligraphy from my own culture and just to have a little bit of a bonding moment with them. Yeah, she'll sit there and do that. She seems really excited. She's a quick learner.

though repentmanship isn't great, it's wobbly. She gets it and she's working on it. I would say it takes maybe 30 minutes to an hour of that happening before everyone is able to collect. Clayton, Lucas comes and informs you that everyone has rallied in the dining area. I will go down and I will drink my tea and look at the tea leaves and see what I get.

Okay, okay. Keep that secret. The bane of my existence on those point in time. It's like I literally felt my butthole clench when he rolled them. Like, oh, God. Oh, no.

Collective butthole clutching. Yeah. I'll feel it. All right. Are we all rested? Yeah, I'm going to wake up and just kind of... I've been improving on her calligraphy. We've been practicing.

That's nice. That's nice. Maybe one day she'll write great scholarly books and pass on her knowledge. Well, do you feel smarter? I feel smarter every day because I get smarter every day. I always make sure I have a goal, learn one new thing every day. Well, make sure that you keep that up when we're gone.

Did you know that Sarnax did not come back last night? I'm not surprised. Did he sleep outside? I don't know. I was just told when I asked Gertrude that, is that your name? Okay, whatever. Probably. I was told that he did not come back last night at all. Interesting.

Is that like him? Yeah. Who can't even ask the question, is that like Sarnax? He's doing weird stuff all the time. I wouldn't really let it bother you. Yes, I suppose. Do you think that he left the abbey and died? No, don't say that.

What? I thought we were talking about all of the possibilities. I think you would know Aram if you'd. No, not necessarily. I'm like really good, but I'm not like perfect. You'll get there. I'm sure he's fine. He's probably just doing whatever Sarnax does.

It's fine. Should I go check on him? Feel free, yes. I'll grab a piece of toast and put it in my mouth and hoist myself up and head out to find our Sarnax. In the interim, Sarnax, you wake up fairly early. When you find yourself curled around the place in which you planted the seed, and to your surprise, you are to. see the tendrils of green breaking through the soil.

Good, good. Good. What you see? Even in place of death, there is renewal possible when you've proven that time and again, and I thank you again for granting me the power to do what I did yesterday. I only utilized the scroll of the litch because you... At least I interpreted. Your guidance that you approved, please do not hesitate to smite me down if it was wickedness

that I had fallen to in a moment of desperation. I sometimes wonder, now, despite the devoutness of my fate, despite all you have done for me in granting me the fire prince, what I can trust that I see, that I hear, that I feel, but I am trying to walk the right path. I'm trying to destroy justly and renew when I can. And I'm glad I've

been able to bring a sanctuary of your own to this hallow place. And I'll just put my letter down and I'll tell someone who touches me. You do that. And you are there for almost an hour as Kana approaches.

Good morning, so I'm next. Good morning. Morning gun. Did you sleep out here? I did. I have need of your assistance. In fact. Of course, what do you need help with?

Do you see this small sproutling? I do. It's very small. It is small, but it will grow to a great tree that will bear the most unbelievable fruit. However, it was through death,

tragic death and destruction that allowed this tiny sapling to find life so quickly. May I ask to offer the life-giving water that it requires for its nourishment? I would be honored, Synax. I have to everything you've done. That is the least I can do.

I think you come. I will take out my water skin and my intricately carved bamboo ladle, and I will pour water into it, pour it over, and then just kind of gently put it on and create kind of like a little well around it so it doesn't get completely waterlogged. And I'll kneel next to Sarnex looking at it as it just paints into the soil.

Are the other who is ready to depart? We've gathered for breakfast. How are you feeling? I am better, at the very least. I still feel wary. Perhaps it is mental, and I feel the unworthiness of reaching beyond my station, beyond my power, utilizing a scroll of a long dead ledge of the Amber Temple,

even if assisted by the fire lord himself. I had prayed on it and I hope that Garex has given me his blessing. I am not hungry. I will be here waiting until the tides depart arrives.

You know Gare, Sonax, I don't, although I don't believe in one deity necessarily, you're a truly, truly dedicated follower of Garex and I respect that. but I believe in karma and I feel that the scales have weighed heavily in your favor.

You've brought so much good to this land. So any time of doubt, you can always know that you have my respect and my trust in you. I thank you. And I do what I can to serve. And there is time yet in your short human life to find God. Come fetch me. when we are ready to leave. I just silently

stay on. You need new bit. You can leave that water, bitch. You can leave that water stand. It's just a little 55 water. My life is even shorter. You all must make the most of what time we have. Thank you, Connor.

For your nourishing. I can say. Yeah, you make your way back up. I'm assuming you emerge from the case. You easily convince Shepard to, or Clayton, to leave the case, and you all emerge having finished your breakfast as Connett arrives. Irina has just made her way in. Well, Arabele, you know that we have lessons this morning,

so I want you to collect the books from the other room, compile them and meet me over in at the Catees in 10 minutes and she looks up at her and she's got a look of disappointment Are you sure I get? Okay, fine, I'll do it.

I need to learn one new thing today. Well, before you go to your studies, I just... You would like me to come with you? I'm so sorry, Irina, I have to go with them. She's trying to ask me to come. So sorry, I've got to go. I'm sorry.

I'm none longer, you know. Okay. I wanted to thank you. I'm going to grab her hands. Come with you? No. I'm going to grab her hands now. Bitch.

Mama needs a wine. You know, coming. Mama needs a wine. Go to bed. You get little shit. He is your bed. He's being so fucked if it makes it better. He did.

He said it like, he's your iPad. Mommy needs a frame to you. Station. Oh my God. The greatest accident on the planet. We need to have an all-Gena campaign where we all just... Are Gina?

Oh, God. So I want to just grab her hands and I just want to thank you for your help. Okay. We could not have made it through the crypts without you. I'm totally now. I'm just going to squeeze her hands. Ouch you, that's really hurt. But I can't like that a little bit.

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I'm a long, dear. Okay. You know that it will be really hard for you. I think you're right. But you have to do it because if you don't, you cannot kill her. Yes. So it's like, it's like this, okay? you have to do this

or like you can't do that you know no so it's kind of like if you don't go and like finish what you're trying to do then you can't move on to step two does that make sense it does yeah

and like it will be really hard and I've seen all of you die before but not here I can see anything here It's just like a mist of green putrid waste is all I see when I try to look. I'm sorry that you have to see that. But that's how I know it's going to be scary because I can see like really most things, but not this. So I'm worried for you.

And I want you to know if you die, that I think you are very pretty. And that even though I know that in your heart you want really gross. things that like who you are as a person is really cool and that sometimes you should try to focus on like who you are when you are awake and less of who you are when you're like not awake you know. Thank you, Bethel. I think I do know you. And if I die, I want you to know that you're more beautiful than any girl I've seen in this land. Well, I didn't want to say that I knew that already, but so I won't

but thank you, you know. I like that you said it. Good luck with your studies. Thank you. I will get really better. Shepard, can I talk to you for a minute because I'm about to let you walk away and might never see you again. Yeah, all right, I'll,

Aramel, sure. Well, what's up? So, you said that those kids, that they're going to come will be really nice to me? Yeah, of course. Can I tell them that you said that they were going to be really nice to me? Absolutely. Can I tell them that you would be really upset with them if they were not nice to me, and they were treating me mean, and made me cry?

Yes, I would expect you to tell me or tell Ms. Irene if that were the case. Okay. And, um, you know, and she, like, looks away. She won't make contact with you. If you, like, died or something, I know that I, don't seem like it, but I was real upset if he died so, like, maybe don't, okay? All right, I'm not gonna die.

Okay, cool. Like, what do we do now? Because, okay, and she, like, pass you on the back. That was nice. Goodbye. And I pat her on the back, too, and I say, yeah, that's real, that's real nice, Arivel.

Okay, thanks, bye. All right, you want me to send anybody else over or are we having private meetings? Yeah, I'm going to talk to Conner real quick because she just walked into the door, so. I'll send her in your office. All right.

Okay, my office is like where I'm standing right now. I'll send her right out. Okay, cool. I'll just wait here then. I just turn like, Connie, you're up. And I point to Arabeau. Then I leave. She waves at you all excitedly.

And I walk over. Hello. Welcome to my office. This is this one square I'm standing on. I'm Arabele. It's great to talk to you again. Is Arabele? I'm kind of psychosite.

It is a visitor to meet you again. Yep. So I was God damn it Yep All right for one second so we can drop this in

Oh yeah Oh yeah Thank you for the minutes We're gonna need that one today Thank you Yep So like I really need to ask you a question

Okay And like You can never tell anybody That they said this or like talk to this about to anyone, you know? Okay. So I have this and she reaches into her pocket and she pulls out one gold coin. I know this is a lot of money.

Like probably more than you've ever seen in your entire life. Right. So I stole it once. I don't want to talk about it. It was in like a future days, like, I mean, previous days when I was like a really bad kid. But I'm not one of those kids anymore. So I have this, you know. And so the thing is that.

I would like to hire you to be, like, my mercenary, I think. You know, is that what it is? I want to hire you to protect Professor Azran because I think that he is, like, really nice, but kind of dumb and super old. And so, like, if he goes into this today without the protector, he will probably die. And so I want to help you to protect him if he wanted that.

I would be more than happy to. You don't need to pay him. I really do because I'm an honorable girl So I'm going to give this to you and she has passed passes you the coin Thank you. You will now are my employee, okay? So like if I send you a message I want you to just do whatever I say all right

If I if I am capable of doing it Oh my God, who did I hire? She says to you open out you hired me to protect Yeah I know I did So like if I tell you to do something You should do it then it's your job now Hello boss you're in my office

I'm also employed by the professor I mean that before I gave you my money I'm more than happy to give you a refund for my services You know I've had enough I have another meeting Just make sure he doesn't die Okay Absolutely are about

Incompetence You may go Just bow to her and I quietly turn heel and leave. It's so hard to find good help these days. I was going to say it. I'm so glad I've got to have been ahead of me. I'm so glad.

Holy shit. She then makes her way around and you feel you're engrossed in your reading, but you feel a tongue on the back of your jacket. Hello? Yes? We need to go talking to

my office. All right. Where is your office? Do you see, if you look four squares to the left and five? squares up, that one square there over there, that's my office. That's one five by five square for mechanical reasons? Yes, I will be in it. You will be outside of it. All right. I will accompany you.

Thank you. Please lead the way. I will. You have to let me open the door first. And she walks up to it. She pretends to open a door. She steps onto the square. She turns around, please take a seat. Is there any furniture? No. You're standing in the middle of a room. All right. And I'll just sit on the ground. If Clayton had a big, big dick energy

He was summoned a chair I'm sorry. I summoned an invisible unsincerally. Okay, so you are going into something really difficult today. And there, I do not think I can help you.

The veil is dark. You know divination magic like I do. Yes. And I cannot pry into it. It is like a gross, like postulant, mossy wall of grossness and eikiness, and I can't get past it. I don't know what will become of you.

Do you think the fight will happen today? No, are you going to make it all the way there today? Or are you going to doodle and go somewhere else? Or are you going to, like, just decide not to go and fight anybody? Or are you going to go shopping? Oh, are you going to take Sarnax to Blinsky's to buy more toys? No, no, no, I won't do that. But we do have to stop by Ogdenvosthold.

So that made less. Okay, I don't care. I'm just saying that whenever you go, I won't be able to help you, you know, because I can't see in there. So I don't want you to die or anything because, I mean, mainly just because I really want to be able to go back into that case, not because I'll miss you or anything,

or because I think I'm really cool, or you're like the only person I've ever met who knows what it's like to be me or anything. So, like, it's not any of those reasons. It's simply that I really like your case. So if you die, can I have it, but also could you not die, maybe? And you look up at her, or you look down at her.

No, I guess you'd be up to just on the water. Yeah, I'm sitting around, yeah. And you see that her nose has begun to run, and she's doing everything she can to keep the tears from falling out of her eyes. It's all right, dear. I won't die. Nobody said it's not all right. No one. I simply have a cold, you know?

I won't have to give you my case because I won't be dying. Only do you so promised, though. I promise you, Aradale, that I will not die. None of us will die. And you will come back immediately after you won't go straight to Castle Ravenloft because these all determine so many things and I might be able to help you a little bit. Even if you won't let me go, I might be able to tell you something that will help you or I might be able to do something and she reaches out and she grabs your hands.

So please don't like go straight there, okay? No, I would never. No, no, there's still much to do before we go. Okay, so like you will go and you will win and it's okay if everyone else. I don't tell me that, but it's okay. You'll come back and then we will get the habit to resurrect everybody and then they'll all be fine and you'll come back and then I will help you get there and then you will kill her

and then we will all be released from this horrible awful place forever. Okay, then. Well, like I said, I really only cared about the case. So, oh man, my eyes are really itchy. I must have gotten something in them and it's definitely not my emotions. I want you to understand that you have a very important role here Yeah, totally

You must listen to Miss Irina Make sure you study I really do because she's super smart and I like her And she's pretty Pay attention in your lessons Yep But you should also Keep an eye on things

You can see far more Than anyone else can I'm keeping my third eye open all the time Even though it gives me headaches and my brain feels like it's going to squish beneath the foot, like a bug. I know how it can feel sometimes. But I'm keeping it open. So anyway, you should go now because I have to get to work now,

and my office is closed. So bye. Well, take care. We won't be gone long. I'll see you in a few days. She runs up and she gives you a huge hug around the shoulders. Goodbye. Goodbye.

Goodbye. And she waves at all of you. she juts over and flops down onto one of the chairs, opens a book, and begins to write. You notice that she occasionally looks up at all of you. She's still watching you. She's still aware of your presence, but she's trying to focus on her tasks for the day.

As Irene meets with all of you, she informs you that Sergei is doing well, but not well enough to travel with you on this leg of your adventure. That your best hope is that the abbot continues to tend to him so that he will be in fighting shape for when you do make your assault on Castle Ravenloft. And with that, she takes her leave and heads directly over to Arabele

and begins their schooling for the day. So as with that, that Kana comes back and she lets you know that Sarnax will be waiting for you in the Grove. You all gather your things and write yourself. And with one last glance over at Irene and Arabeau, you make your way out of the main room of the abbey and down the winding path that leads toward the grove. You arrive to find Sarnax on the ground, praying over a small,

a small leafy protrusion. Well, would you look at that? What'd you got there, Sarnax? A potential for our salvation, if we go into battle, tomorrow, then things are looking dire and grim. I will call out to all of you to trust me, and you all must be willing. Your souls must be willing. And if you do that, if I draw breath and you'll return here to this tiny sapling.

All right. Yeah, I mean, sure. If things start to go south, we can do that. but I trust in our abilities to slay monsters. Only all the world's problems can be solved by plants. But I trust you, Tom. I thank you, Professor. Do you trust me enough for another thousand gold pieces?

About that. The expedition's running pretty low on funds, and we have about a thousand gold pieces left entirely. I believe that this will be critical. What do you need? I need a gem-encrusted bowl. How gem-incrusted? Quite.

German-crusted is what I heard. All right. Curio. Are you sure? I think it will be critical for our survival. All right. And I'll reach into my case and magically you'll hear it like a... Caching.

And I'll pull a... there will be some kind of amber gems and some rubens in the bowl. Professor, say, a refund policy with your case. No, it's gone, no. There goes the gold. And you can just make something like that. Troubling. And that was the last of our gold.

Well, let me check. Most of the last of the gold. Listen, I've got a couple hundred gold pieces if we need them. Survival's more important than bullshit money at this point, all right? I'm happy to donate my share back, at least until we get back to our point. That is the last, I will ask, of you unless, until we come upon some more currency. Until the next time you ask. It just may be, if we're stopping by Argenvost Holt, maybe they have some funds they could release with.

And perhaps I could write to the abbot, and maybe there's some sort of town treasury. We could ask for a loan, of course. I'd pay it back once we can get out. The university will cover it. I don't think he'd ask that of those people. They were quite dour dire straits when we arrived. Well, I mean,

he has been using his magic to sue things over. Perhaps they have coin to spare. Perhaps. I'll write a quick note asking for a loan. And I'll just really quickly see, like, you know, Abbott's, uh, apologies for having to ask this, but

could you loan out the expedition, any kind of coin that you have? I have some that I'd be willing to do me. We, we... Well, I believe even if we pool it all together, we're getting into the mechanically power levels where things cost thousands and thousands

of gold, so... Yes, perhaps we just don't take those spells or prepare them, but... It's a least worth asking. I don't know anything about magic. It's fine. We'll figure it out. All right. It's just money. Please, I will...

I assure you that the loan will be paid back with interest, by Miss Haller University, as soon as all of this trouble is sorted out. Interest in what? Interest as in, when you take it a loan, when you pay it back, you don't pay what you borrow, you pay it what you borrowed, plus a little more. That difference, that profit, is called interest. Interesting.

Exactly right. That's where the word interesting comes from. Well, no, they both come from the same route, but yes, it's the same word. I still do not understand, but I don't think I need to. All right. I'll find out, Mongol folk. Could you make sure that the Abbott gets this? Yeah, sure. All right, good luck.

He flaps the bat wings on his shoulder and grabs it from you as he makes his way off. So this is it. This is it. How are you ready? I'm ready. Our plan is Argonvoss Hol. Arganvoss, yes. And then...

And then Beretz. And then Berets? we should prepare as much as we can in Berez. Yes. And stay the night. It will be a long journey to get to there. We'll find a good place, a few miles maybe, or a mile, half a mile outside of where we think that she is. We'll camp up.

We'll do this how I know to do this. And we'll do it right. I hope that the knights of Ogdenvost will allow us to spend the night again. I'm sure they will. Berez is fortunately not too far. It's a several-hour journey, but you can still make it in the morning. Depending on how things go in our bossful, when we get closer to Borez, I just want all of you to trust me.

Of course. I trust all of you explicitly. This is where I'm going to shine. This is what I do. That's exactly why I hired you. Never thought it would come to this, but we're going to be all right. Shepherd B. have been

and will continue to be the monsters of the monsters will fear. Damn right. And when we arrive at Argon Vostwalt, it should be you that presents the skull. You are the chosen of the silver dragon himself. I would be

honored. Let's just go. All right. Shepherd leave the way. Yes, sir. And we will start to trek towards Argan Vostholt. So, you begin to make your way towards Argan Vostholt.

the ravens once again flit around you guiding your path darting into the brush keeping you safe repaying the debt that the Mardikov family believes they owe you travel for hours unimpeding

before you finally come to the steps of Argonbosthold itself the towering decrepit mansion looming over you roiling thunder clouds overhead, looked the horizon, the trees, the skyline obscured by the slopes of the mountains, fully snuffing out the light of the morning lord that you'd enjoyed the past 24 hours. It's here that you can once again feel that creeping, sickly sensation.

What Rovia truly is at its very core. darkness and shadows. You stare up at the lifeless, lifeless mansion before you. You listen and you hear nothing. Silence. All right, Silver Dragon. Please don't call me that.

This is all you. If you burst into a cloud of silvery scales and wings, we should all probably step back. I don't want that to. Jeez. All right. All right. The great honor and a blessing, shepherd.

Yeah, yeah, okay. You'll fall to your knees at the thought. I'd certainly like to see it. Okay, all right. There's front door, right? With two large knockers. That's right, I forgot about that, the knockers. I'm going to walk up to them and use them.

I'm going to use the knockers, the large ones. You make your way slowly past the statue of the dragon that you remember it made the strange noise, the puff of wind, as if it had been a bit of truce. to activate, but you knew that the mechanics inside were broken. As you walk past, do you expect it this time? You see as the mouth opens and the air protrudes from it. Slightly cold, but no frost like you'd expect. As you ascend the stairs and make your way to the two large knockers in the face of this door.

Both of them shape the face of a silver dragon. You wrap your hand around one of the knockers and you begin to slam it against the wood of the door. Jesus, Mickey I'm going to cup it I don't want to damage it It's ancient You know It's old

It's something to be protected As I use the knockers at all costs As I use the knocker The one big one Huge even I'm going to Shout to To whomever may be inside

Hello It's Shepard I'm here with the Professor And the rest of the expedition we've come back, we've returned. Hello, is anyone there? You hear the sound of the knocking, echoing throughout the hallways of this gigantic mansion.

And you wait. And then you hear it. Sound of footsteps, heavy footsteps as they make their way towards the door. Door opens and you see before you the same gaunt face you remember seeing previously. you had been expecting Sir Godfrey he was the kind member of Argonfost Holt but standing before you is Vladimir Hornguard

the same man who you remember turning you away being unwilling to listen to you as he looks at you the skin topped around his face sunken into the hollows of his cheeks so tight that you can see every remaining almost petrified strand of muscle and sinew that rests against his bones

His eyes glowing of pink red As he looks out at you Looks frustrating What brings you back to Arganvostovt Um well uh again I'm sorry You were told to leave and not return We have

We were sent on a mission actually And we retrieved the bones of Arganvost We retrieved the bones Bless me No no I mean we You deign to walk these stairs and lie to my face.

It begins to look really angry as you see he grabs the health of his sword. I would never lie. I take issue with that because I'm an honest person and I was set on a mission and we have the bones. I can prove it.

Would you like to see them? If this is a joke to you, I will cut you down where you stand. I invite you to. Oh, right. Quite large. In normal, and my keys,

I'll get really big and I'll open it up I'll spinning around. Please take a look. Inside the case. Procure this goal for me now. I mean, can we just kind of like... I will assist as well.

All right, we'll see what we can do. And I guess we'll try to, like, position ourselves in a way where we can try to, like, pull... As your hand finds contact with it, you begin to see that the case begins to expand exactly what you need it to, to lift. the skull from it is all of you are able to find a spot around it and grab hold of it.

You can, as you touch this, you feel the holiness radiate from the skull as you begin to raise it out. As the first crest of the bones begin to shine in the very soft gray light, you hear a sharp intake of breath. The gods favor us this day. You are not lying. And you see as he reaches in and he grabs a long, rotted cable that's attached to a large bell. You hear bells ringing throughout the ruins of this place. As you begin to see at least 20, maybe 30, skeletal or corpse-like figures,

revenants of the silver dragon, the order of the silver dragon, as they begin to spill out into the hallway, as they all congregate behind Vladimir and stare down at you. we have been blessed these things bring it to us take it take it and you see as the

the order begins to file around behind and move directly towards you as you lifted out they they grab hold of it and begin to carry it with honor

you would follow you follow me certainly yes yes so follow us please he begins to almost rushed he begins to lead you

through the entirety of Argonvost Holt back towards a room that you would all remember, the arched cathedral, where you saw the members of the Silver Dragon kneeling in prayer. Those members no longer there, they are with you, around you, holding on to the skull. All of them almost in shock and awe. They are unsure of how to proceed, but they follow the orders of Vladimir, is begins to move you through the cathedral and out a side door along a winding path, the only area of this entire building that seems to have been constantly upkept.

The tree lines are hedged, the grass is cut the cobblestone path that leaves around a fountain with the effigy of Argonvost in his human form at the very center, the water spilling from beautifully crystalline waters, the path that leads further back to something you'd only witnessed out of the window, the large mausoleum, the head of a dragon

in the very top of it. That was that building that we saw outside that we didn't go to. It is. Yep. As you begin to make your way through, you notice a small cemetery off to the side

and you see that even this area is up kept, though none of the tomb stones seem to look recent in any way. You continue along the path, following along directly behind Vladimir as he leads to the charge. And finally, you reach it. Tarnished, silver-plated gargoyles shaped like dragon wormlings cling to the stone-tiled roof of this mausoleum, an eight-foot-tall, four-foot-wide, white marble door set into the southwest wall as engraved the name, Argonbost. The interior of the mausoleum is dark and dusty.

You see four empty alcoes with raised floors. Etched into the far wall is a verse written in trachonic. Those who can read trachonic? I'll say the long. You can easily read it from here. Here lie the bones and treasures of Argonvost, Lord of Argonvost Holt and founder of the Order of the Silver Dragon. And you do see.

that there are bones here. The only one missing, the skull. The platform in the very center, just large enough for it to fit. At least. I assist. You will do the honors. He will return. Arginvosten so that he may finally rest.

Yes. All right. All together. Come on. Let's do this. But we may finally rest. And he looks exhausted. As I, as I'm like,

squatting down to like get under it to get good torches. I'm kind of like muttering under my breath, but I guess they can hear me. I'm not nervous of some people. Call me a liar. And I'm not living this damn thing. God damn it. And then I'm like, I'm just going to put a hand on your back and easing us to say. Yeah, all right. All right. Everybody's, everybody lives. We don't need anybody getting hurt before we're going out. All right, together. With your knees, not with your back. Exactly. I'm just bowing in my pure reverence as I continue to help with one hand as I hold my lantern. okay I'll

you I'll make a with all 10 pounds then I'm supervising realizing that that doesn't work

Clayton quickly helps and grabs the skull with you as it takes the full use of all of your strength to lift this skull

and place it upon the pedestal as you do light begins to shoot directly from the center pure

silvery light as it shoots like a beacon straight in to the air. Everyone around you gasps as they're looking to and fro as the light washes over the land around you, cutting through the mist and the clouds in Borovia. Shepard, you stare at the skull. You see for just a mere moment The actual face of Argan Vostom is dragging form. Oh, shit. No skull. The face.

And as its mouth opens, you are consumed in a shroud of burning ice. You all watch as shepherd rears backwards, shaking snow off his body, but you see nothing. He looks like he is removing something from him, and you feel almost a slither. radiate through your body and then you look and there's nothing there but a skull look down at your fingers which have just been blue

with the force of the cold but they're warm and you're pink and you don't feel cold anymore but you have it forever imprinted in your mind the true image of Argonvost at his height you saw him and you've been there with you

and all of you look now faint of silver radiance glowing around Shepard. And as you watch, you see as it slowly pulses and fades, but you feel somewhere deep inside of you, a presence that had not been there before. You feeling all right, Shepard? Yeah, I saw. What do you see, Shepard?

I saw. Describe it in great detail. It was, it was almost terrifying. And as you begin to talk, you hear a popping noise, And as you look behind you, you now see that there are at least a hundred of these revenants, all in various tattered bits of armor, rusted, old, skeletal, standing behind Vladimir. You now see that in all of this you hadn't noticed that he had arrived, but you see Sir Godfrey.

And both Sir Godfrey and White Van Vladimir, both Sir Godfrey. Both Sir Godfrey and Vladimir in a loving embrace, the madness that had consumed them with the loss of the skull of Argonvoss removed from them as they look up at each other, tears streaming out of their eyes as they embrace and kiss the love between the two of them restored. Godfrey reaches up to Vladimir's face. I've missed you for so long. My love, I've missed you. You're here. You see me. And it is the popping sound. that catches you as you see the entities in the back pop into dust and were once had been a revenant you now see the misty iridescent form of the soul as it climbs towards a beautiful shroud of silver mist

finally released from its eternal watch and able to find peace pop another one is released in the soul makes its way towards a silvery cloud another and another as the popping gets louder and louder you see Godfrey and Vladimir clinging to each other, knowing that eventually their time will come. They have fulfilled their duty. They have returned Argonvost to his rest. As they embrace each other, you do not exist to them in this moment. Their love finally coming together at last. The popping slows.

As they stare into each other's faces, their hands on each other's cheeks. I will love you for always, Godfrey. And I will love you for always, Vladimir. And in unison, you watch as their bodies puff into ethereal dust, in their spirits still embracing, make the final ascension to the heavens. You will now gain plus one, A.C. As you are now the blessed of Argonvast. Oh, stop!

hope has been restored in some capacity to Barovia. As you see the light extending over not just the Abbey of St. Markovia, but the entirety of Barovia. Only two small

patches of darkness now remain in this land. Off to the very north shrouded in shadows and storms, Castle Ravenlocked. And where you know you will be going soon, the Mubbs and mire of the drowned city of Berets.

Sleep well nights of the dragon. Oh gosh. Rest. I did not see that coming. You now stand in the mausoleum at Argonvostholz. You're looking down over the, as the spectral dust still begins to rain from the air around you. the last remnants of Vladimir and Godfrey ascend into their final peace. You look out over the sky, you see the very beacon at the top of Argonne pistol

is completely illuminated as it sheds its light all over the land. And though you know, all is not safe, there is something about it that brings you a small amount of peace and hope for the first time in this land. you truly feel hope we've done something very powerful I hope so you have done something very powerful I mean they all just vanish

that is the greatest justice you could have done shepherd we return them to each other we put them to rest there's all a tormented soul can possibly helpful I guess I just wasn't ready I didn't know that was going to happen

None missed it. We freed them, but it does feel like we killed them. We awoke them from their own nightmare, their own death, and we returned them to life in their own afterlife. Should I have... Should I have prepared all of you?

It was, did you think that once their quest had been ended? They would linger here as tormented corpses to shamble about this place forever. Suppose you're right. No, this is very much what I expected. It would be a cruel god that they served, a cruel dragon.

Were that to be the case? I just didn't know. Well, we are now champions of dragon. Champions of Argonboshole, champions of Garrix. The Morning Lord, our allies grow. and should Danya's dwindle. Yes. And tomorrow, they will dwindle even fewer.

Are there like windows? Like, have we seen the light spreading? You're outside. Oh, we're outside. You're at a mausoleum. The big door is open and you've just set a skull there. You're in the courtyard now. That's where everyone just burst up into the heavens.

And you can look back over the dilapidated ruins of the mansion. And it is cold there, but it's there. It's yours to use as you choose And the light comes from the very beacon at the very top And it spreads out over the entirety of Borovia But only two places it does not cover And that is Ravenloft and Perez Is this skull of this mausoleum of Argonvost safe now

From the touch of Stravanya? I believe so I think we should spend the night here I agree. We traveled quite a long way today. This is probably the second safest place in all over a year. Yes. And I will propose that we search the fortress

to see if there's anything we can use against Baba Lysaga and the Countess. Yes, perhaps even coin. Perhaps. Well, let's take the evening to investigate and we could relax for a little bit and rest. All right. And then tomorrow, we get an early start.

First thing, yes. And depending on how long it's going to take us to get there, we're going to set up somewhere on the perimeter about a half mile out. It's a plan from there. All right. It's a good plan. I trust you. Join me.

And I guess we'll investigate the role. You enter into Argonne. and it feels there's a sense of emptiness and almost sadness about this place. You know that even though they were revenants, that there was still a life form here, and it is now devoid of that and will someday, and probably someday soon, return to the earth. But for now, it is a place to rest and a place to potentially find something that will assist you in the task ahead of you.

And you do all to make a group investigation check to see what do you do you think of? What do you know? I'm fishing in investigation. I got a 25. I got an 11. 16.

Whoa. Did you? That's 90. 20 plus 9. Plus 11. That's a 31. Holy moly. Why is it? Because it's a skill check.

Yeah. It's still lucky good omens. I got the highest rule possible on this clicky-clucky math rock. Rich is on me roll a D20 on one of my concentration checks yesterday, and I didn't make any, I didn't even say a word. No, I'm not. It's not. While everybody was ripped it on me and chat about my dice being shitty,

I rolled a 20, and I kept it to myself. Everyone infuses their subliminal excitement into me. Yes, exactly. And I exude it at the right mind. And I love clicky-clucky math rock. I'm excited. I'm with phantom, phanto ace,

that is now what we're calling them forever now. I'm not excited about getting a 31. Couldn't have done it about that 20. Natural fucking 31. I got a three. You're all natural one. That negates his natural. Or was it actually natural one?

I got a three. Yeah, I was natural. And I got a three. So three, 16 what did you get Andy? Oh I got a 26. 26, 11, 31

Yeah, just give me a moment to leap through all of this and accumulate loot Loot He's got my bag Yeah Z's got my bag

I love Clicky Clacky Math Rocks You know what, me too Especially when there's a little spit on them That means that I did real well. I don't laugh real good, but squid means I did something good. She's crazy. It happens one out of 20 times.

Gadsukes, Sarnas. I got a little bit. Oh, my. I don't care as much for numbers and letters, but a picture, that makes me say yee. You know what you say, Sarnax? The pictures worth the thousand bullets. Or bullets, yeah. You're weird.

say I was in a serum. So, what we get? Not much, to be honest. That's what I'm apologies. I wouldn't expect it. I want to lose the skeletons. We deserve this. We never loot.

And we never loot and we're like, okay, now we want to lose. We return to everyone on to heaven. There are a couple of things that I don't know if you'll use that, if it makes sense for you to use them, but you find a platinum holy symbol of the morning Lord, Lord worth 250 gold pieces. That could be useful. Yeah. You find a plus two great sword.

Ooh. You find 600 gold pieces. I was rounding up because I don't feel like doing silver. Sorry. Electrum. What? It's Electrum. Oh, it's not.

That's the boundary joke. I know, but I can make it electric with that attitude. Please don't. Just because the module uses a lot of election. Electrum doesn't mean you have to make a little. fun of me. And then this is the part that really bothers me, and I really want to say it's not in here,

but I'm going to be fair because you are doing this, and you did do what you just did. There are four potions of invulnerability. Whoa. What does that mean? For one minute after you drink this potion, you have resistant stall damage. Air four.

Well, not much of nothing of value. I stumble the motions and destroy them. I'm going to leave a judgment and redemption behind. I like that great sword. It's a non-magical great sword from what we can gather. It's a plus two. Perhaps we find a vendor where we can right click on this great sword and exchange it for coin.

I think it's appearing as a gray item in our inventory. It suggests we junk it. You imagine that it had previously belonged to Vladimir. Oh. That's really rude of you to say. I will instead leave it here. We should, we should, like, put it somewhere. Do you imagine the holy symbol also belong to him as well?

We'll make a small shrine or something. I don't hold on a holy symbol in case I can use it for... Yeah, we should definitely, like, make, like, a shrine for a little. Oh, perhaps. Just put the sword somewhere. Like, even just, like, stick it in the dirt. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's put it in the mausoleum in front of the mausoleum.

Yeah, yeah. Just, like, I say that in Shepherd's voice. You should be the honors of the Shepherd. I, sure. I would be honored. Can you hold it? Can I hold it? Yeah, it's a sword.

It's a great. My arms aren't made of noodles. It's fine. I'm not wielding it. I'm just placing it respectfully. Jeez. And I just, like, put it up against the mausoleum nice. He's very sensitive about his arms.

I've never seen him to take care. So, shall we all retire to the banquet hall? Yeah, I think that's a good idea. I can use a little self-reflection time, I think. Do we know how much more travel for you to get to Berez from you? Several hours. It's not far, two, three hours. Well, if we get up early enough in the morning,

then we don't really need to set up any kind of camp. We'll just find a point from which to strategize. Yes. Let us all enjoy perhaps our last supper. and I'll there was like a banquet hall kind of thing right so at the banquet hole I'm going to pull out the

the heavily jewel-encrusted bowl and I'll place it on there and I'll reach into my pack and I'll find some of like the scraps and rations and that I had taken and I'd kept from erios I'll put a cracked egg I'll put in a bit of

of underroot that that makes the tea, scraps of jerky, venison and turkey, venison and turkey, and then a very hard, like, kind of like, cracker. And I'll place it in there. And I'll sit. And as I stare at it, I'll place my lantern beside it. And I'll look to Shepard. Shepard, would you like to say grace? I get the feeling you're not asking so much as tell I wasn't going to say it in so many words but you are perceptive alright fine just there give everybody hold hands joint hands quick

so sorry sorry it's just cold outside I thought you were teeth like that anyway we'll talk about it later thank you Argonhaust and thank you Gary And thank you to the people of this land who have suffered greatly. And the morning, Lord. And of course, and of course the morning Lord.

Thank you, thank you. I'm new to this. Bear with me. You're doing great. And I want to thank my friends. Initially, this was just a job, but now we're here and we've been through so much together and we're going to make it out. Thank you and I thank all the people that I mentioned for this meal and our next.

because this won't be our last. Amen. That's what you say, amen. That's what the dot. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

Amen. As your champion, shepherd has said, Garex, we offer this meal we are about to consume to you. You ask you that you bless this meal as you bless us. As we are your champions, we are your warriors, we are your heroes. And I cast heroes feast. Oh, no way!

And I don't know what it did. A little flame will look out for my lantern and ignite the bull, burning everything, and consuming the bowl and in a pop. That was the bowl that you put off on the dresser. Yeah, and then an entire feast of the Ereos variety, but not like the lavish Eryokran. Like a great feast in a badger. Badgersboro would be.

So it's all sorts, it's venison, it's, it's, uh, gaming meats. Um, uh, there's a lot of turkeys. There's, there's gorge, root vegetables, pastries and it's just, potatoes. Potatoes. Lavishly just spread. Gravy. Stick them in a stew. Lots of eggs.

Um, and it is spreading before you. Thank you, fire lord, for this bountiful feast. Holy hell! You watch as the feast adorns the table before you, and as you begin to dive in you watch as it starts to turn gray and then shrivel and rot

you hold it and you look at it and you shake your head as you see that it's not rotting just this horrid, cursed land you all begin to face. It's a horrid god of the womb. I say it and beyond the gulls.

It's horrifying, Mike. I'll take out my handker. So what is it do. Yeah, what does that do? So this will be very important. I hate you so much. Because it takes like an hour to set up, right? Yeah, we'll just say that.

We are guests. Welcome to Ragenvost. I was not very good. You bring forth a great feast, including magnificent. Oh, and there's also, there's like a gnomish ale, there's wine, there's all sorts of spirits of the fear bulbs. It is delightful. A great feast including an efficient food and drink. The feast takes one hour to consume and disappears at the end of that time.

And the beneficial effects don't send until the hour's over. I'm 12 creatures, it doesn't matter. A creature that partakes in the feast gains the several benefits. It's cured of all diseases and poisons. It becomes immune to poison and fear and being frightened. It makes all wisdom saving throws with advantage. And its hit point maximum is increased by 2D10. and we gained that amount

of hit points. How long does this last? 24 hours. I forgot it was 24 hours. That's awesome. Okay, so, sorry, repeat that again. A unit to poison. And frightened.

That's a condition. It's a bit of frightening the same thing. Yeah, yeah, I just asked you. So do we individually roll or do you roll our help hit points for us? How do you want to do it? Oh, I just rolled myself, but if you would like to roll it. I would like to rule it because I would roll it for. I think you would roll it for.

I think he rolls. Yeah. So, yeah. Okay. So HitPoint maximum goes up and then our, and then our, okay. So just do HP Max, HP modifier. And you put SEPPT modifier to say. I really want Shepherds Pye for dinner.

What do you want? Oh, pie. Sheppard's Pond. So just this one. Ew, ew. Andy. I hate you. Oh, dear.

That was why you ruin everything. There was a conversation. I could wreck Shepard's Pond. Yay! What's wrong with you? So, I also want everyone to read this is our last curse of straw before Thanksgiving. You did it! For you Americans, so we're having things for a feast.

It's like whenever the characters in a show, it has critically experienced a Halloween or a Christmas adventure for a reason. Oh my God. Thank you, Gannix. You never cease to amaze me. saw next. This is unbelievable. I mean, it is the blessing. I am thankful for Gerex. I'm, I'm, I'm, what are you all thankful for? I'm eternally changed as a person through all of this. I don't know how, if we get out of here, I don't know how I'm just going to go back to to, to live in where I was. And it lived, being peaceful monster hunter. I don't know.

Gosh. How do you, how does anyone go on? after an experience like this. I'm just going to go home and hug my love once. We can and must find a way, at least for those of us that do survive and return. We're all going to survive, son, perhaps. I'll make sure of it. It is a nice friend. Either way, I think what I'm most grateful for is the hope that the various

gods and beings have given me. This was a dark land in the fact that here we are with this beautiful light above us, the morning sun above the abbey. Yes. It almost feels like we can do that. The power that I feel inside my soul right now. Thanks for this delicious feast of giving thanks.

Yes. Thank you, son, nice. You're welcome. you all, think all of you for everything that you've done for this expedition and for this man. You will all be rewarded handsomely by the university when we're all done with this. I almost don't even care at this point. But I insist. Even if you don't care, I will ensure that all of you are very well-paid, very comfortable.

If you want to live in a plush housing, you can come to Brieg if you'd like. Well, I certainly would love to visit, but as far as anything else you're talking about, I just can't even fathom right now. Wow. I think our reward will be leaving this land intact and leaving it a better place than we found it. Agreed. I'm grateful that we have brought as much light as we have, and for knowing our course is the right one to take. Yes. I am certain that we will fulfill our destiny.

We will cleanse this place. My faith is strongly mad. At what cost that is the only uncertainty, but I frankly no longer care. All that matters is the destruction of this evil and the renewal that will come from. And while we are all gathered here, unless there was anything else, unless there was anything else in the loan to say. I am also I'm going to put my

chopsticks down and raise my cup. I have hopefully found some sort of rice wine, sake alternative. I will find the closest thing to it. Regular wine. There's nothing. It's coming. I will drink water then.

You're kidding, bitch. Jesus. You know, do I'm grateful for the four carl, this is me. Be gone. Respectful to Mr. Zalachn, I've had a bit of wine. She adjusts her cameltoe

as she gets away from the same. That's fine. But I would like to say that even though we are in cursed lands, that I am grateful for life because we are alive, aren't we?

We have the strength. to overcome the weakness and the fear. And this is what it means to be alive. Thank you for your friendship, for your honesty, for your trust. It has been an honor. And if I fall to her blade tomorrow, my sagas or strads, whoever it may be,

I wish nothing but the best for all of you to live on a happy life. forever or always yeah cheers to life to life in a land of death

cheers and I'll drink my tea I feel really inspired I will take an inspiration I'm scared what Biffed

Bobbo I saw I was looking for the window but this is a day to also remember those less fortunate those that live in the swamp and have only goats. He shall invite them and break them. To all the tech people. Does Kana just carry her own like hello kitty

chopsticks in a little plastic here? Bento boxes are Kana's favorite. Actually, Kallin, fucking we. We're going to understand. Kana turns you and says, No, Sarnax, I'm not weep.

Weeb wish they were Japanese. I wish I was dead. I am one with the weeds. As you are one with the leaves. Cats for dessert. So with that, you enjoy your meal. You do get somewhat drunk and you say things to each other. You normally wouldn't say.

Like hello, kitty, chopsticks. And you make your way eventually back to... I don't think your arms are that skinny at all. Because that's a raw. Oh, yes. Well, once Carla puts her greetings, feline, topsticks down. Oh, that's right. We're actually going to say something.

I'm sorry. We derailed everything. I didn't realize I had more than one set of chopsticks. I don't know which ones to use for this occasion. We have a little friend. Greetings. Green's feline stolen breeding. I'm afraid.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm just... I was not even though over. That's what you interrupted me for? Well, so I wanted... Before you even got to that, I wanted to say the main character as part of the

the meal. Please feel free to if we're done. So what were you going to say as part of the part of the meal? If we're all winding down the meal, I think we should discuss strategy.

I think that there's no use in parlaying unless we can put her on the other foot. I believe that it would be most likely mid-battle. I don't want to get,

I don't want to engage in conversation and let her plan out her attack. Let her sudden or have a foul beings that may assist her in duplicity while we speak to her. So I think we should try to,

if we can, get the jump on her. The problem is we have to get the rest of the lullaby from her. How much we do that? We can retrieve it after she is dead if it's written down somewhere. Would Connor know anything about Phapex?

I would say probably not, but you could roll a you could roll the history check 15? Yeah. You should but not anything. I still quietly in the Well,

the last run in we had with the hags at the windmill, you were able to get their attention and it did work to our advantage. Now, I'm not, that's not what I do. That's not where my strong points are. I'll leave all of

those magic and mind games. to you. But what I can say is that when it comes to a straight up fight, we're probably in over our heads. And that means that anything can happen. The times that I've been the most confident are some of the times that I've had the most trouble. So I actually feel like we're going to have to figure this out as we go. All I know is that a creature like this is going to have some resilience. They're going to be tough and we're going to have to wear her down.

Little by little as long as it takes. This won't be quick. And our key to our survival is putting one foot in front of the other and keep pressing forward. This isn't a sprint. It's going to be a marathon. We'll win the war of attrition.

Agreed. We're going to be in her turf. Yeah, odds aren't going to be in our favor. That's all right. I am planning on keeping us all alive. Do we think we can sacrifice my flame? What does you mean? My fire and destructive powers?

Sorry. Do you want to check on him real quick? I'll take a lot. Got it. Jack, better. I believe that you should do what you can, but please, it's... I trust your judgment. Please do keep us alive.

and I think that between the rest of us, hopefully we have a good amount of damage. Strategically, I think we need to pace this out. If there's anything I've learned in Inari and the dojo, your opponents will pull out all of the stops at the end when they are fearing the loss. Victory is not within their grasp. That's when they will play their best hand.

we go in guns blazing the lack of a better term I fear we'll blow all of our resources up front and have nothing to sustain us through the fight I will hold out until one of you fall but you can count on my blade very well I agree

and I believe that we should also discuss the potion that we found do we do we save those for Shadha. I worry about using them now, but perhaps we do. I'm all right without using one. I think I'll be fine.

I'd never leave one for the rest of us. Again, we've only come across these creatures once or twice, but... And I can only determine so much about what these potions will do. And I'm worried that whatever this Baba's plan of attack is is going to be maybe not directly counter what she's trying to do. You know what I'm saying? Elaborate.

If she's focused on you know, we keep hearing about she's ancient, she's beyond time, she's older than Shredania. She's not going to be coming at us with fish and claws and weapons. I agree with that. At least my understanding of what this potion might do

is strengthen the skin. But it might not strengthen the heart and the mind. And if she attacks us in other ways, I'm not sure that... My point is, it might be better saving it against Shredaunia, who's at least wailing the weapon. I don't know. Do I, after sitting with it, is it resistant to all damage, or is it resistance to... It's a potion of invulnerability.

It's exactly what the potions ask. Okay. I will investigate the potion, so I... I read it verbatim to you. For one minute after you drank this potion, you have resistance to all damage. The potion... Therapy Liquid looks like liquefied iron. It only lasts a minute.

If we use any, I suggest we use them when things aren't looking so great, and resources are low from you and from Garrick's. I agree. I mean, this sounds like an ace in the hole to me. Maybe we keep it on the back burner, like you say, with the plan of saving them for Shardana. Then all of us but kind of will just hold on to one. Just to the ace.

Yes. Well, doubt it. Understood. All right. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to open against her? We must be stealthy. Surprise is best. If we can get close enough to her without her knowing us, that we're there,

I can discern a little bit more information before we open fire. Perhaps that's when we can determine our best force of action. And no matter what happens, you keep moving. You do not want to be a sitting duck out there. We're going to be in a mess of a situation in the swamps, and it's going to be wet and sticky, and we've got to keep moving. If you stay still for one second, you're dead. Keep moving, all right?

Agreed. Agreed. Professor, do you have any magic ability to amplify sound in another location? Maybe we can distract her with the first half of the lullaby, have her facing a different direction thinking. her daughter has come. Some way to catch her off guard in case we are not stealthy enough. I still think that might even be a good thing to use mid-combat.

Like the professor was saying, even if we don't open with that, that gets some sort of illusion or some sort of trickery to throw her off her game mid-combat may be what we need, even if we don't open with it. Sure. I fear if it's in combat, she'll know it's coming from us, whereas if it's an unknown source, she may be more keen to follow in direction or look away. I can only do it 10 feet away.

That's a good point. 10 feet is not really enough. Not enough distance. I'm worthless in that regard, but... Would it make sense for me to... I hate to go back to the old topic. For me to consume one of these potions. Since I will be able to keep everyone alive ideally,

so I'm able to better concentrate. I think that as long as we save some of them, for Shredaana, will be all right. Then yes. Starting off, Sonax, you drink one right away. The rest of us, it's purely for an emergency. I don't think I'm going to need it. I mean, this man can bring people back from the dead.

I feel safe with keeping sure he's all right, and then he can tend to our wounds. He'll have his own, but we need your strength and power and the damage. Your output is stronger than any of ours combined. Oh, don't worry. I'll be bringing the heat. Yes, your DPR is very impressive.

You're talking all the damage meters, Shepard. I couldn't keep up. Damage per round, Shepard, if you weren't aware. I kind of rock. I gather. I gather as much. Make sure we all do backslash reset before battle starts. Absolutely.

Clear your counters. Especially if you had that shitty one recount. It takes up all of my in-game memory. It's terrible. Must you shame me in front of my friends at our own time? table. Anyway, I believe that's a good plan. We should get some rest and convene in the moment.

Just remember that whatever we have for conventional go-to tricks may not work. I can't stress enough that there's some things that just won't work at all. We got to be ready for that. Move and adjust and stay on her toes. If something you try isn't working, readjust, re-adjust, re-stratage, think on the fly, and don't stop moving. well said, Jepper I'll try to stay within five feet of you to protect you as well, so that you may concentrate.

You should ensure, first and foremost, that you are in blade too late with the enemy. I will do my best to protect myself, but I do appreciate that. I hate to ask you to get close, but Sarnax is right. Get up in her face, keep her busy, and we're going to pepper her from afar.

Close is my special to you. We won't let you get in trouble. We can be on. you in a minute. It's not me I'm worried about. All right. But I'll keep her pinned down as much as I can. Good. Maybe you could take a good aim if I've got her rooted. Absolutely. Well, I'm going to retire for the evening. Thank you for sharing this meal with me. Thank you for the feast. Thank you, thanks. Thank you. Thank you. And I'll leave. Good night.

You all have been in one of the rooms this. same room that you'd shared when you first met Esmeralda and you find rest for the night. Or I guess unless you're going, I guess you'd probably go down to your mansion. I think we'd go to the room and then we'd go into the mansion. Sure.

You do that. You go to the mansion. You all find your individual rooms and you enjoy long rest. All right. Baby. Good. It's kind of grueled you sometimes not having to prepare spells. I just go

boop-boot. Yeah. Ready to go. I'm a big fan. That's what I feel about my warlock. Oh, yeah, true. Okay. Actually, I'd like to rewind back to when he cast Hero's Feast and instead use magic to use his nemesis and Cattern. It's a 10-minute cast time.

He just starts, you wait till 9 minutes and 40, 559 seconds and then you dispel it. Yep, you got them. Aaron's ordering botchon. Don't tell me with a good time. Nice. Don't tempt me. So you all wake up in the morning. You commune as you normally do.

You need to do anything before you begin your journey. I would drink my tea, look at the tea leaves, read my spellbook, and prep your new portents. I did. I did. I would have rolled for them. I didn't hear it. Oh, I think she would have been watching. I didn't hear it. Keep them honest, Nick.

I literally just rolled three of them. I did the whole... You can check, chat. You just saw me pick up. Did he? Jack, did he roll? Did he say that? Hurry, someone clip it.

Someone clip me rolling my importance because I did it. I did it. I did this. Okay. All right. Thanks past the me. All right.

All right. I don't, I don't trust you. Got to keep on it. Abby. You never trust your boyfriend at your table. So.

He's good. He's good. He did, though. fine then you're good but he did so I will be preparing my spells and the rest of the I would say that we'd just be getting up very early probably before dawn and get an early start and trying to make our way towards Bres

and the professor and everyone is ready Nikki Bullsbrons on chat do it I think you're a bunch of liars chat well I got a four so I believe you yeah All right. All right.

So you all begin your morning rituals. You prepare as you would. Proof-apporten. He prepares you would any day. And you begin your journey along the winding path that leads from Argonvost directly towards Bres. You travel for hours. The trail hugs the river several miles. The dirt and grass soon turned to marsh as the trail dissolves into spongesion.

earth pot marked with strands of tall weeds, reeds, and pools of stagnant water. A thick shroud of fog covers all. Scattered throughout the marsh are old peasant cottages. Their walls covered with black mildew, their roofs mostly caved in. These decrepit dwellings seem to hunker down in the mire, as though they have long since given up on escaping the thick mud. Everywhere you look, black clouds of flies dart about hungry for blood. The fog is much thinner on the far side of the river, where a light flashes amid a dark ring of standing stones. As you look around, you've been here before. When your first hunt for Arabelle, this was not where you found her.

But nothing seems to have changed as you look out over the marsh. You see it there, nestled in the thickest parts of the mire. The single looming hut of Baba Lysaga. And in it, lights illuminated, movement, and out of the chimney, the crooked, winding chimney, huts of smoke. The other mother is calling, it's time to go to bed for good. They've surely overcome terrible horrors in Peruvia thus far. But Babelais Saga is the worst evil day have faced. She's not just some mad old woman.

Her babbling is not incoherent. She hears as I do, there will be blood. Will the Asran expedition finally get sacrificed? Find out in the conclusion of Chapter 13 of Curseus Thradania, Mother's Malice. In the meantime, if you wish to watch Legends of Adventress tell similar stories of Dungeons and Dragons every week, you can follow us on Twitch. You can also enjoy our many campaigns on YouTube, support us on Patreon, and join our community on Discord. All links are initial notes. We welcome you to our Ventress family.